Wayne Lewis, the newly named interim state education commissioner, will visit Jefferson County Public Schools next Wednesday and Thursday as part of an ongoing management audit, the state department of education announced.

Lewis has read the JCPS audit and supporting documents, according to a news release, and "wants to get a firsthand look at the district" before making a recommendation to the state board based on the audit results. The recommendation is now expected by the end of April.

"Whatever decision I make will be based on the facts and what is in the best interest of the children attending school in Jefferson County," Lewis said. "The students' well-being and opportunity to be successful will be the driving force behind how we move forward."

He made the decision to visit JCPS on Friday, he told Courier Journal, and the district was "happy to oblige" when he gave them a call.

"I didn't feel like it would be right to make a recommendation to the board based solely on the audit, without me being able to see and feel and hear for myself," he said Friday evening.

Lewis, who was named to the position after Stephen Pruitt resigned under pressure Tuesday, is now responsible for recommending what should happen with JCPS once the results are released. One option he may recommend is a state takeover of the district.

“I didn't feel like it would be right to make a recommendation to the board based solely on the audit, without me being able to see and feel and hear for myself.”

Wayne Lewis

That could happen if the audit finds the district has shown "a pattern of a significant lack of effectiveness and efficiency in the governance or administration of the school district" — and determines JCPS can't fix its problems on its own.

The state board would vote whether to approve any recommendation. Under Kentucky law, JCPS is entitled to a hearing in front of the 11-member board ahead of that vote.

Speaking to reporters Tuesday, Lewis said he knew “absolutely nothing” about the audit but that it would be a “top priority.”

“I’m going to have to get on the ground, figure out exactly where the department is in that audit, and get up to speed pretty quickly because Jefferson County Public Schools has been waiting on the results of that audit for far too long,” Lewis said.

He echoed those sentiments again Friday, saying, "I don't have any reason to delay it."

The audit began in February 2017 after a six-month management review of the district found "critically ineffective or inefficient management" within JCPS. The audit has been ongoing since then, but Pruitt had told reporters he was waiting for a report on the district's collective bargaining agreement before releasing it and issuing a recommendation.

Lewis has said the analysis will provide evidence for any needed improvements, but it will not factor into his recommendation, according to the news release.

JCPS board vice chairwoman Lisa Willner said in a statement Friday evening she was looking forward to next week's interviews with the Kentucky Board of Education.

"We've made tremendous progress since the management audit began in 2016," she wrote. "Under (Superintendent Marty Pollio) and the current board's leadership, we've worked hand in hand with KDE. We need to keep the positive momentum going in JCPS for the good of our kids."

Board member Chris Kolb also said he looked forward to it, citing the chance to share the "tremendous progress we've made in JCPS under new management."